Knot root nematodes

[annageckos]

I was pulling some carrots and it looks like some have what looks like knot root nematodes. Some have a lot of them and look misshapen, others only have a few and some have none at all. Beets, carrots and lettuce are all in that area and it looks like some of my beets have them too and the lettuce. But mostly everything is growing well. Some of the carrots are small, but then I also mixed a few different varieties together and I know some of them were smaller carrots. I just can not remember the varieties. I'm not sure if this is something I should worry about? Can it be treated? Organically is preferred. I read something about using something that had shrimp/crab shells in it to add to the soil. Something about the chitin attracting good nematodes that will eat the chitin then move on to the knot root nematodes.

 

[sumi]

There is an interesting article on nematode management and organic management here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ng047 Unfortunately it looks like there isn't much you can do to eradicate them...

 

[annageckos]

Thanks, I think I skimmed that article but will read over it. Some of my carrots have it really bad and they have a ton of little hair like roots. Some carrots right next to those have none or very few. I planted a mix of varieties so I don't know which are infected and which aren't. It doesn't really seem to hider them though.

 

[journey11]

I'd like to know too. Any time I plant carrots in the main garden which is clay soil I get bigger carrots, but they're all chewed up by nematodes and won't store well. If I plant them in the raised beds I don't have any trouble, but they don't grow as big in the raised bed. (Inconsistent moisture I think may be the problem with that.) Would interplanting marigolds help?